“You’re afraid of being separated from the grassroots, aren’t you?”

I was asked this a week ago. And a soft realisation set in... yes, I am. For it is in the “grassroots” where our connection with humanity is the most profound.

This is where we find the purpose of what this is all for. This is where we remember that when we dare to almost get lost in the high level thinking, the innovative processes and peace treaties, or lack thereof....

These are the moments that bring us home, when we are face to face with another and we bridge the gap of who we are and we see ourselves in a simple act that reminds us of the true purpose of it all.

As I answered this question a week ago, it was with a gentle bringing of light to the fact that this is what I built a career around... bringing light to and bridging the gap between the way that we think that change happens, and the simplicity of what is often needed more than anything...

Where has she been?

I am conscious that this is something that a couple of people previously connected to me may be wondering.

Well, let me tell you a story that involves a one way world adventure that began at the end of January 2020 and took me not much further than Bali, where I have been based for all but two weeks of the time between then and now.

I left Bali after five weeks to attend a wedding in Penang and then flew to Hoi An in Vietnam, where I intended to begin my travels. I wanted to travel the Southern route of the Silk Road, however I didn’t have a plan for how this would unfold. A week later I watched the world and town around me shut down. Family at home raised concerns about my plans and I made a swift decision to book the next flight back to Bali, to move in with a Balinese family that I had came to know over the five weeks and I arrived by the end of the day.

On the Monday morning I attended the immigration office to have my...